118350: Delaying Jumu’ah prayer until nearly the time for ‘Asr

In our country there are mosques where they delay Jumu’ah prayer until almost the time for ‘Asr. Is it permissible to pray Jumu’ah in these mosques?.

Praise be to Allaah.

The time for Jumu’ah lasts
until the time for ‘Asr begins, according to the majority of scholars. If
the people pray Jumu’ah before the time for ‘Asr begins, then they have
caught up with Jumu’ah.

See: al-Majmoo’
(4/377-381), al-Muhalla (5/42-45).

It is better to pray
Jumu’ah with those who offer the prayer at the beginning of its time,
because that is in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him). It was narrated that Salamah ibn
al-Akwa’ (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: We used to pray Jumu’ah with
the Messenger of Allaah (S) when the sun passed its zenith . Narrated by
al-Bukhaari (4168) and Muslim (860).

It is haraam to delay
Jumu’ah until the time for it is over; that is a major sin, because Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, As‑Salaah (the
prayer) is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours”

[al-Nisa’ 4:103]

“Then, there has
succeeded them a posterity who have given up As‑Salaah (the prayers) [i.e.
made their Salaah (prayers) to be lost, either by not offering them or by
not offering them perfectly or by not offering them in their proper fixed
times] and have followed lusts. So they will be thrown in Hell”

[Maryam 19:59]

The scholars of the
Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas were asked about people who are
studying in the US, and the study program does not allow any time for
prayer. The time for Jumu’ah prayer in the US is 1.30 p.m., but they are
forced to delay it until 4 p.m. because of the study program. Is it
permissible to delay Jumu’ah until this time?

They replied: It is not
permissible to delay the five prayers for which the wise Lawgiver has
stipulated specific times. If the delay in prayer is for a reason which will
not cause one to miss its prescribed time, then it is permissible to delay
it; if it will cause one to miss the time, it is haraam. If continuing to
study means that the prayer will be done outside of the proper time, then it
is not permissible for the student to do that, and he must offer the prayer
on time. The end of the time for Jumu’ah is the end of the time for Zuhr, so
it is not permissible to delay it under any circumstances.

And Allaah is the Source of
strength. May Allaah s end blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and
his family and companions. End quote.

It is permissible to delay
Jumu’ah prayer until close to the time for ‘Asr, in such a way that it will
end before the time for ‘Asr begins, but if there is more than one Jumu’ah
in the town, it is better to pray with those who pray Jumu’ah when the time
for it begins.